Author: Kurni Antonius

Metro Hartford Region Bike Share Plan Released

COGCNV recently provided funding and technical assistance to a study examining the possibility of introducing a bike share system in the Hartford area, including the City of Waterbury. Led by the Greater Hartford Transit District and the Capitol Region Council of Governments, this study examined the feasibility of bike share across an extensive geographic area stretching south from the Massachusetts state border to the City of Waterbury. The purpose of the plan is twofold: to determine if and where bike share makes sense within the Hartford region and to develop a blueprint for moving forward and implementing bike share. Please visit the Bikes and Pedestrian Studies section to read the reports.

COGCNV Helping Dam Owners Comply With New Dam Safety Regulations

July 18, 2014

NEWS RELEASE

COGCNV Helping Dam Owners Comply With New Dam Safety Regulations

Contact:Aaron Budris, Regional Planner/ GIS Specialist

Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley

Phone:(203)757-0535

E-mail:abudris@cogcnv.org

The Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley (COGCNV) has posted a list of dam safety engineering firms on its website in order to assist Naugatuck Valley region dam owners in compliance with new state dam safety regulations.

Modifications to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Dam Safety Program went into effect in October of 2013 shifting much of the responsibility of dam inspections from DEEP to dam owners. Previously, DEEP inspected privately owned dams, a service for which they charged owners a fee. Under the new program dam owners will be notified by DEEP when their dam is due for inspection and the dam owner will be required to hire a qualified engineer to inspect their dam and submit a report back to DEEP. The law also requires that all unregistered dams be registered, that owners of high and significant hazard dams develop and implement an Emergency Action Plan to be updated every two years, and that dams with safety deficits be remediated or removed, all which will require the services of a qualified engineer.

In order to assist area dam owners in selecting an engineer, the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley issued a request for qualification statements (RFQ) to engineering firms interested and able to perform these services in our region. Firms were asked to fill out a standardized submission form detailing their qualifications to provide several dam safety related engineering services, and listing references for recent work they have completed. They were also asked to submit résumés of staff that would be assigned projects in the region.

Sixteen firms submitted their qualification statements and résumés, which have been compiled into a list published on the COGCNV website at: /content/dam-safety. The list includes links to each firm’s submission materials and website. The completed submission forms will allow dam owners to easily compare qualifications of firms, and should be a valuable resource to dam owners in their search for a qualified engineer. The web page also includes an interactive map of the Naugatuck Valley region’s dams and links to more information about the CT Dam Safety Program.

Executive Director Search Consultant RFP – DUE 7/18/14 by 4 pm

The newly identified Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) will be hiring a new Executive Director. The Formation Committee of NVCOG is looking to hire an executive search consultant to assist in the selection process. Consultants interested in this work should submit their qualifications to the office of the Council of Governments Central Naugatuck Valley. Questions and answers regarding this RFP may be found under the “Vendors” section of the “About Us” tab.

Waterbury Regional Bus Ridership Study: 2013 Completed

In the fall of 2013 COGCNV performed a full system passenger count of the CT Transit – Waterbury division bus system. The report tracks bus ridership trends and makes recommendations for changes in the bus system. COGCNV staff solicited public comments and received several suggestions on how to improve bus service in the region.

Waterbury Regional Bus Ridership Study: 2013 (PDF) >

Animal Shelter Feasibility Study Completed

In February, 2014, COGCNV, with assistance from Silver/Petrucelli + Associates, completed a Regional Animal Shelter Feasibility Study, which examined the pros and cons of constructing a regional animal shelter. Middlebury was selected as the optimal location for a regional shelter. Included in the report are preliminary designs for the regional shelter, a discussion of management options, and a cost-benefit analysis for participating municipalities.

Animal Shelter Feasibility Study (PDF) >

CNVR Economic Profile 2013

An update to the economic profile was published. The profile delineates projected trends in areas such as employment, job concentration, and wages through 2020.

The Economic Profile provides an in-depth look at regional economic trends such as employment, job concentration, wages, worker age, and employment projections up to 2020. Twenty sectors of the region’s economy were examined. The report, which covers a period from 2002 to 2011, uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Connecticut Department of Labor, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CNVR Economic Profile 2013 (PDF) >